Cheer Cheer Levels Explained: All Star Levels 1–7, Divisions and Age Groups
By Cheer Weekly · Updated
All Star cheer division names pack a lot in: "L6 Senior Large Coed" tells you the level, age group, team size and gender mix. Here's how to read them.
All Star levels 1 to 7
All Star cheer uses levels that limit which skills a team may perform. Level 1 is the entry level with the most restricted tumbling and stunting; each level up allows harder skills. Level 6 and Level 7 are the elite levels, and the top L6/L7 teams compete for world titles at The Cheerleading Worlds.
Divisions per level in our All Star results: L1 55, L2 65, L3 72, L4 87, L5 44, L6 11.
Age groups
Teams are also grouped by athlete age. The common names, youngest to oldest, are Tiny, Mini, Youth, Junior, Senior and Open (adult and international teams). Exact age cutoffs are set each season by the governing body.
Team size and gender mix
- Small, Medium, Large: roster-size bands within a division.
- All Girl: all-female teams.
- Coed: teams with male athletes.
- Limited Coed: a cap on the number of male athletes.
Put together: L6 Limited Senior Small Coed is a Level 6, Senior-age, small-roster team with a capped number of male athletes.
Other All Star division words
- D2: divisions and championships (like The D2 Summit) for smaller D2 programs, so they don't compete against the largest gyms.
- International Open / IASF / Non-US: divisions for international teams and open-age teams.
- Flex / Restricted: divisions with modified skill or roster rules within a level.
- CheerAbilities: divisions for athletes with disabilities.
College cheer divisions
College cheer doesn't use levels. At NCA College Nationals and UCA College Nationals, teams are split by:
- School division: Division IA, Division I, Division II and junior college.
- Difficulty: Advanced and Intermediate.
- Squad type: All Girl, Small Coed and Large Coed.
- Events: team routines, Game Day, Partner Stunt, Group Stunt and Mascot, plus Jazz, Pom and Hip Hop for dance teams.
Browse every division's champions on the results page.
Cheer levels explained: FAQ
What is the highest level in All Star cheer?
Level 7 is the highest All Star level. Level 6 and Level 7 are the elite levels whose top teams compete at The Cheerleading Worlds.
What does L6 mean in cheer?
L6 means Level 6, one of the two elite All Star levels. Division names combine level, age group, size and gender mix, for example "L6 Senior Large Coed".
What is a Limited Coed team?
A Limited Coed division caps the number of male athletes on the team, separating it from fully Coed divisions.
Is college cheer split into levels?
No. College cheer is divided by school division (for example Division IA, I and II, plus junior college), by Advanced vs Intermediate difficulty, and by All Girl, Small Coed and Large Coed squads, with separate stunt, game day and mascot events.